STAND BEFORE THE LORD

“Then the men turned away from there
and went toward Sodom,
while Abraham was
still standing before the LORD.”
Genesis 18:22
New American Standard Version

(Read Genesis 18:17-33)

The role of an intercessor is of vital importance, especially in these last days. An intercessor is someone who goes before the Lord on behalf of someone else that needs help from Almighty God. They cry out to God to be merciful and gracious to someone else. In most cases, it is prayer for those whose situations or circumstances need the mercy and grace of God’s immediate attention.
God’s word says that he will return to judge the earth. This promise is as sure as His judgment was against the evil cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. There are many who are not ready to stand before a righteous Judge in peace. Eternal destinies lay in the balance. These souls are in need of an intercessor. It may be a spouse, child, relative, or dear friend. Are you willing to continue standing before the Lord on behalf of someone else?
After the Lord told Abraham of his plans to destroy the city, Abraham stood before the Lord and began to intercede for the righteous of the city. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family lived in Sodom. He petitioned God to spare the city if he could find fifty righteous people. God agreed to his request, if in fact, he could find fifty righteous. Abraham must have considered the wickedness of the city and decided to decrease the number of his request to spare the city to multiple times until he arrived at ten. As we read, the city was destroyed, however, Abraham’s nephew and his family was given the opportunity to escape. They were taken from the city because righteous Abraham stood before the Lord. God honored his request so much that the angel told Lot, “Hurry, escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there” (Genesis 19:22). What an impact Abraham’s intercession had upon God and what a benefit for Lot! Intercession is close to God’s heart.
It can be so easy to only pray about our own needs and forget about those who need someone to stand in the gap for them. Do you have family members who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal savior? Are you willing to stand before the Lord and continue standing in fervent prayer for your family? Your church? Your city? Your nation? Are you in right standing with God to intercede on behalf of someone else? Jude 1:7 exhorts us to remember the fate of Sodom as an example of the eternal punishment of the wicked. Let us also remember and follow the actions of Father Abraham and stand before the Lord for our loved ones and for the world. Stand before the Lord and ask Him to save from the wrath to come!